The Vermont man who crashed into Treat Williams — resulting in the beloved actor’s death — is pleading guilty to a reduced charge, and, as a result, he will not go to prison.
Ryan Koss pled guilty on Friday to negligent driving with death resulting. Koss was turning into a parking lot last June when he collided with Treat, who was riding his motorcycle. Although he was wearing a helmet, and was airlifted to a hospital for treatment, Treat did not survive his injuries.
In exchange for his plea, Koss is getting a one-year deferred sentence, probation and his license is revoked for a year. In addition, he’ll have to complete a community restorative justice program for the misdemeanor charge.
Prosecutors say Koss has fully cooperated, and been accountable for the tragedy from the start, and even called Treat’s wife from the scene of the accident to tell her what had happened.
During Friday’s hearing, he said, “I’m here to apologize and take responsibility for this tragic accident.” Interestingly, Treat’s family was not interested in pressing charges or seeing Koss do time.
Treat’s son, Gill, was in court and told Koss, “I do forgive you, and I hope that you forgive yourself.” Treat’s wife, Pam, expressed a similar sentiment in a statement that was read in court … but she added, “Our lives will never be the same, our family has been torn apart and there is a huge hole that can’t possibly be filled.”
Koss had originally been facing up to 15 years in prison … as he’d been charged with gross negligent operation with death resulting, a felony. He pled not guilty to that charge, before copping a plea for the reduced misdemeanor charge.
Treat famously starred in the movie, “Hair” and the CW TV series, “Everwood.”
